Releasable windshield



Feb. 17, 1931. G, MAEHREN 1,793,370

RELEASABLE WINDSHIELD Filed Feb. 18. 1928 5 SeStS-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Feb. 17, Y1931.

G. MAEHREN RELEASABLE WINDSHIELD Filed Feb. 1'8, 1928 Sheets-Sheet 2 .4 l IWA..

J INVENTOR ATTORNEY Feb. 17, 1931. G. MAEHREN RELEASABLE WINDSHIELD A Filed Feb 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR fmwn/ 21M $1, 9W

{ATTORNEY ing obstacle. In"a'll su"ch cases 'halt tends to 'th'roivtheoeoupants forward my windshieid.:

` 'fiine I I einig. e. Y l

Pfesied Feb. 17,-;1931

GEORGEMAEIrienNforrAermeremove, feeLiFoRNrAes'sIGnO-a or'eNErHA-LF To Roeoo n ELIO, oF MONTEREY, 'GALFORNIA V .-RELEASABLE WINDSH'IELD -Appiiaeiaiea Febuary 1s, 512928. .serial No. 1255,*322.

f This invention ,relates to releasalole :or y safety Windshields *.anfd has for its principal object the pro-vision oi' a Windshieldfthat in event of 'accident -will be released 'fromits normal position and'thus prevent occupants beingthrown againstit at risk of injury.

A 'fuitherobject isto provide means for lsueh release, and means for controlling said release means.

VThis invention arises Jfrom'the urgent need of protection VJfor. occupants of automotive vehicles i'n 'such-cases as'When vvehicles moving'in opposite directionsv'collide, or when brouglitto 'a sudden'standstillby an oppos- :the sudden against theglass Windshield frequently v'vith such violent 'force as tobrealr the glassV to shivers,Y thereby jeopardizingtlie lives of the victims. i

Whereas, by the 'use of this novel invention the instant thejcar receives a vsudden jolt in any horizontal direction the Windshield is thrown ffor'ward out of its `frame leaving-a harmless space :for occupants'to instead-0f dangerous glass. These objeets `are 'attained generally byt'he form, material and co-nstruction'of the parts employedV and, the use of Aelectricand 'magencounter fneti'c `energy "as lwill hereinafter Fa'ppe'ar, together "with other advantages v-`that Will Vv'loecome :apparent as 'th ye specification unfolds. In-the drawings v Figure -I ljs'hows a cargin collision Vand the Fig. 3 shows an insideelevationztl vievvo'f "Fig 4 shows a'sectional planitakeiifonthe Fig. 5 shows an elevation'fdetailoifaspring. Fig. 6 shows ther-spririgffof Fig. 5 as viewed tat a right angle.

--atively disposed 'diagrammatically-inFigure Figures 123m) andde shovvelevational views .of saidlatches A"as does the of fan ordinary Vdo' frame shovvingr interrelated positions of springs and solenoids.

-ligzV 12-is an enlarged detail elevation of the solenoid and latch element.

IY*IV ofFig. 12.

Fig. 14shows achanged form of latch.

Figyl is plain ofvFig. 12 taken on the line vLike reference'characters-refer to like parts throughout the several views. .s

Referring `to vthe drawings, the numeral `l --denotes the relatively stationary. supporting Vframe vvhich1 s-secured tothe vehicle (-here-v "55 insaid frames when! engagedloy saidlatchesn75 There are preferably four-of-tlielatches'?, each beingadapted to fcoact With f afsolenoid lfa's Willlaterappeargsaidlatches being relto `said solenoidsfas shown andFi-gu're' 18`shovvs a topvieivf thereof'as vthe .latch would appearlooking down on" it'from Y A The Ylatches 7ja`re Carried bythe bearingwggl pieces 24,-said bearings 'heingsecuredfto the 'inner side jofthesupportingfram'e by"spt vWelding 'or in other 'suitable "mannerfeaoh latch f' being provided tliefsuita'ljly -hevira-mes are brought tUQgether, as .lshofwn m Figurel'O, said latchesvv'ill:egagetlie'ra jesi lWhieliispivotedto the releasable' A f Said 4frame '5 27,0

oreloiok.

, and shown in detail in Figures 5 and 6, wherej 5 with the frame 1 and fasten the two together until such time as said latches are retracted by theenergizing of the solenoids in the inanner described.

lVithin the frame 1 are a series of springs 8, (indicated .diagrammatically in Figure 11) in the limbs 9 thereof are secured axially to the concavity .of said frames either by rivet means as 10 or in other suitable manner, said springs being normally set' so that the vlimbs 11 thereof project a suitable distance outwardly beyond said frame 1 as is well shown in Figure 6. it followsqthat with a `stiff spring so set considerable force is required to Apress the limb-11 inwardly tothe position sufficient to cause said frame 5 carrying the being connected in series forward f the controlling device beimpelled away form thev car in a direction instantly upon simultaneous release of said latches.

Within said space A' preferably disposed adjacent the corners thereof, as is well indicated in Fig. 11, are the four Asol'enoids 12, thatare rigidly attached `to the inner sides of the frame 1 by means of the memberv 13.

The solenoid elementsfare adapted to coact with the latch members 7 for their simultaneous release, as will later appear, being provided with the armatures 14 that are 'adapted to be raised and loweredA by magneto-motive-force. The members 15 being provided with the pins 16 which engage the slots 17 of theV longer arm 18 of the bellcranlr 18-19, said Ycrank being'pivotedat 20, and the member 19 making slotted engagement at 21 with the pin 22 carried on the inner side ofthe horizontally-moveable latches 7, said latches being slidably mounted in the lugs 23 that are well shown in Fig. 13 as being punched forward from bearingpiece 24 and suitably perforated to accommodate said latches 7. Said arm 18 being provided with the pressure springs 25 secured to piece 24 by the screw 26 and provided with the abutmentpin 27.v The latches 7 being provided further with the stop means 28-28 adapted to regulate the .throw of said latches either to right or' left.. Said solenoids glass .3 to

disposed within the space A and leadingito now about to be eX- plained. Y

within said`.cas1ng. Y

n ments.

' insulation being itself by the vwires 29 T he controlling device This important element of my invention is illustrated in detail in Figs. 7 and 8 whereas, its interrelation to theother component parts of the invention are well indicated in general in 1 and 2. Y A

'The upper andV lower casing members are respectively 30 and V31, the latter is secured to the bed-pieces 32.-,32by'thebolts33-333 wvlie'reas,Y theiupper member 3() fastens to the lower member by the bolts 34 passing through the companion lugs 35 and 36, thus forming the interior space B partially occupied bythe controller disc 37, Fig. 8, which is normally disposed .concentrically At the center of said disc on both sides thereof are the cup-shaped depressions 3838which are adapted toreceive the rounded end ofthe centering members 39 and 39a, said members being socke-ted a Vworking t ,within the socket members 40-40 and adapted for axial displacement therein under pressure applied to the springs 41-41 by screwing said sockets in or out ofA the female-threaded openings 42-42, the outer surface of a 'suitably engagingportion of said sockets being male-threaded to correspond, being provided withthe bosses 43 for accommodation of a wrench, and witht the ylock-nuts 44 to maintain said adjust.-

Both said upper and lower casings are provided internally. with the-ball-races 45-45 which may or may notshow-in relief on the outersurfaces thereof as 45a. v

.Vithin said races a series of balls 461) is contained and so adjusted as to form antifriction surfaces for easy movement of said disc 37 when being traversed out of concentricity. Y

`Said disc is preferably an iron casting weighted with theinserted ring of lead 46. Springs as 47 are provided to prevent free rotation of said disc within the space B, said springs being preferably attached to the nerwall of the space andfbeing formed so asV to hug the outer rim of the disc 37 so as to constitute a frictions-l brake therefor.

Adjacent the centering member 39 and concentric therewith the. insulating member 48 is pressed into a groove so as to be flush withthe upper surface" of said disc, theV said grooved and provided with a preferablyv washer element 49; j

y A The ong rI`his isdiagrammatically shown in general,

insFigs. 4-1 and2 whereimthewire 29 leads l from one pole ofthe battery 58 into the space AV which it traverses so as to connect all'four said solenoids in seriesJ and, then leads to the pole element 49, While thefwire 51 leads from the terminal 59 to said battery, inzwhich' prescopper contact ring or ,.1

ent disposition of parts the circuit is shown as `52 actingY on the roller 53 having the axis 54 provides another eiicient means for retracting said latch, where as the spring 55 projects said latch to the locked position when not under the iniiuence of the wedge 52. Y

The operation It will be readily understood'that While the car is running under usual road conditions the disc 37 will remain in its normal position j with relation to the contact element 49 and that such vertical disturbances as occur from Y inequalities of road `surface will have no Ytendency/to alter the concentricity of said disc; however, it is obvious that Whenever the 'running car is brought to a sudden standstill or whenever the car receives a sudden jolt by a force moving in a horizontal plane the disc 37 will react and be displaced so as to` force the centering membersY 39 and 39a up into their respective socket members 40 and 40a by compressing the springs 411-41, thus allowing the disc 37 to roll between the balls 46?) until the rounded point of the member 39 makeselectrical contact With'the element 49 closing the solenoids 12, lifts the armatures llt-15 releasing the latches 7, whereupon, the springs 8, being under compression are free to act and drive the releasable frame 5 forward away from the car, carrying the windshield `frame 4 and the glass 3 mounted thereon with it in suchA manner that occu pants of the car if thrown violently forward would be projected into the vacant opening bounded by the stationary supporting frame l instead of being thown through the glass 3 `at peril of their lives.

Obviously, this same releasable means could be applied to doors and Windows and other openings as Well as to windshields.

It is believed that the construction, operation and advantages of the invention Will now be clearly understood. The present embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail merely by way of example, since in actual practice they attain the features of advantage set forth as being desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description.

Numerous changes in the details of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the f shield, latch means gage the supporting frame in front of same, a

transparent Windshield member carried by i the' latter frame, the( frames conformed to enclose a tubular space when engaged, releas able latch-engagement means and spring means Within said space adapted to force the movable frame away from the stationary frame when the latch means is released.

2. A Windshield apparatus for a vehicle comprising a stationary and a movable frame member, a windshield member carriedby the movable frame, said frames conformedv so that when engaged a tubular space is enclosed, compression spring means within the space, means for releasably engaging said frame, re'- lease means therefor adaptedto be actuated Vby the displacement of aweight' member carried by said vehicle.

31A Windshield apparatus for a vehicle V comprising a releasable frame carrying a windshield, a stationary frame mounting said vreleasable frame, said frames enclosing a tubular space extending around said frames, spring means for thrusting the frames apart,

latches for holding said frames together and 7" a magnetic element or elements adapted to actuate said latches for the releaseL of the releasable i frame.

` 4. In an apparatus of the kind described, comprising a windshield having stationary releasable frame members and means for envgaging the one with the other, said Vframes enclosing a tubular space, electro-magnetic elements Within said space and adapted When energized to release said means of engagement.

5. In an apparatus of the kind described, having a member co-operating with a stationary releasable member for mounting a Windelectro-magnet element or elements carried by the'stationary member and adapted to be energizedbythe movement of a weighted body which Whendislocated by shockclosesan electric circuit. i Y

6. In an apparatus of the kind described comprising a magnetically releasable"l wind-` shield frame, a switch member comprising a body carrying one poleofan electric circuit, said body being normally out of circuit but which, when dislocated by shock moves so as engaging said members,

to close the circuit and thereby energize j f magnets for the release of said Windshield.

' invention as hereinafter claimed or sacricing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, whatr I claim as new is l. A windshield apparatus comprising ka relatively stationary supporting frame and a relatively movable frame adapted to en- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 

